As employees increasingly utilize personal devices for work-related tasks, ensuring the security of company data has become more critical than ever. With over 33% of U.S. employees using personal laptops and smartphones for work, the risk of data breaches through these endpoints is significant. Hackers frequently exploit vulnerabilities in personal devices, making endpoint management essential for organizations. Microsoft Intune emerges as a comprehensive solution to help manage and secure these devices, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected.
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What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform designed to streamline the management of mobile devices that access corporate data and applications. This tool enhances security by enabling IT teams to manage both corporate and personal devices effectively, whether employees are working on-site or remotely.
Intune utilizes native protocols and APIs within mobile operating systems to manage devices. The process begins with device enrollment, creating an inventory for IT personnel to monitor devices accessing corporate services. Intune also ensures devices adhere to corporate standards by configuring essential settings like certificates, Wi-Fi, and VPN profiles.
The platform offers robust compliance reporting to guarantee adherence to security policies, integrating with Azure Active Directory (AD) to bolster access control in a zero-trust environment. Moreover, Intune manages mobile applications by assigning them to employees, configuring their settings, and maintaining data security.
When combined with other components of the Enterprise Mobile Security (EMS) suite, Intune provides advanced features like single sign-on and multi-factor authentication, further enhancing organizational security.
Key features of Microsoft Intune
- Device Management
Intune supports a variety of platforms, allowing for effective management of both personally-owned and company-owned devices, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
- Secure Data Access
The platform provides a secure gateway for employees to access corporate data, implementing security policies and access controls to protect sensitive information, even on personal devices.
- App Lifecycle Management
Intune oversees the entire lifecycle of applications on managed devices, from deployment and updates to removal.
- Mobile App Management
This feature ensures that mobile applications comply with company security and functionality standards, allowing secure access to company data.
- Self-Service Functionality
With the Company Portal app, employees can independently reset PINs or passwords, install necessary applications, and remove devices from management.
- Integration with Threat Defense Services
Intune seamlessly integrates with mobile threat defense services, actively monitoring and protecting devices against potential threats.
- Insightful Reporting
The platform provides comprehensive reporting capabilities, delivering valuable insights into the organization’s device and application environment, covering policies, updates, and app usage.
Using Microsoft Intune for endpoint device management
To effectively utilize Microsoft Intune for managing and securing your organization’s endpoint devices, follow these five steps:
- 1. Set Up Intune Subscription: Access the Intune admin center through the Microsoft 365 portal to choose a subscription that fits your organization’s needs.
- 2. Add, Configure, and Protect Apps: After subscribing, add Microsoft and third-party applications to the Intune platform. Customize their settings to align with organizational requirements.
- 3. Create Compliance Policies: Define the compliance requirements for devices, such as encryption and up-to-date software, and configure these policies in Intune.
- 4. Configure Device Features and Security Settings: Set specific security parameters and deploy security baselines to establish a fundamental security posture across devices.
- 5. Enroll Devices: Enroll devices through user-driven, automatic, or bulk enrollment options, depending on your organization’s needs.
Conclusion
Microsoft Intune is a powerful tool for securing endpoint devices in an increasingly mobile work environment. By understanding its features and following the implementation steps, organizations can significantly enhance their data protection efforts. For companies lacking the expertise to utilize Intune effectively, AVASOFT offers hands-free Endpoint Device Management services, ensuring your endpoint devices remain secure while allowing your team to focus on their core tasks. Embracing Microsoft Intune can lead to a more secure and efficient operational framework for your organization.
